Crutch attachment.



W. G. RESTORFP & M. M. LILE.

GRUTGH ATTAGHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.23,1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

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PATENT @FQFIQE.

WILLIAM: G. RESTORE AND MILTON M. LILE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUM- BIA, ASSIG-NORS,

BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF T0 SAID RESTORE]? AND ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH Cv CARDWELL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CRUTCH ATTACHMENT.

Application filed January 23, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM G. Rns- TORFF and MILTON M. LILE, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crutch Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to crutches, and has as its object to provide a convertible tip for a crutch, adapting the crutch for use in both summer and winter. I

Crutch tips of the type designed especially for use to prevent slipping on icy surfaces, are ordinarily provided with spurs or their tread surfaces are serrated. Where spurs are employed, but a minimum bearing or tread surface is afforded, and when the spurs contact with the pavement after penetrating the ice or snow, they are liable to slip. Where the tip is provided with a serrated tread surface, an effective bearing or tread area is provided, in most instances, but the spaces between the serrations are liable to become clogged with snow and the tip then becomes ineffective. Furthermore, a serrated surface is likely to become worn smooth in a short time, rendering the tip even dangerous to use.

It is therefore one aim of the invention to so construct thetip that when adapted for use upon icy surfaces, a maximum bearing or tread area will be provided, although the tip is adapted to penetrate the ice or snow to a maximum depth and be prevented from slipping.

Another aim of the invention is to so construct the tip that snow and ice cannot pack therein, and so that any accumulated ice or snow will be automatically dislodged as the tip is brought into engagement with the surface of the ground.

Incidentally, the invention contemplates so constructing this portion of the tip that should it, for any reason, become clogged, the accumulated matter will be dislodged without removing the tip from the crutch.

The invention further aims to so form the tread end of the tip that should it become dulled it may be readily and repeatedly sharpened until considerably worn down without detracting from the convertibilit of the tip. --'=s A further aim of the invention is to so Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1911.5.

Serial No. 813,957.

construct the tip that it may be readily converted from one to the other of its forms without the use of tools.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a crutch staff equipped with the tip embodying the present invention, and adapted for use on icy surfaces. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the tip showing Fig. 1, the end of the staff being also shown in section. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the tip adapted for ordinary use. Fig. 4: is a group view illustrating the several parts of the tip about to be assembled. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a slight modification of the invention.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the staff of a crutch, the lower end of which is reduced in diameter as indicated by the numeral 2, and threaded, as indicated at 3. In forming the reduced end 2, an annular shoulder 4: is provided, the purpose of which will presently be made apparent. Also for a purpose to be presently explained, the extremity of the portion 2 is beveled, as at 5, at opposite sides.

The tip embodying the present invention includes a ferrule, indicated by the numeral 6, which, when employed alone, adapts the crutch for use on icy surfaces. The ferrule 6 istubular and is interiorly threaded at its upper end, as indicated at 7, whereby to adapt it for application to the threaded reduced end of the staff, and it will be apparent that when the ferrule is applied to the staff, its upper end will abut against the shoulder 4 so that, when weight is imposed upon the crutch, the threads 3 and 7 will be relieved of strain, and there will be no danger of the first-mentioned threads, which are of course cut in wood being stripped. In order that the ferrule may readily penetrate snow and ice at its tread end, its said end is interiorly beveled, as indicated at 8, so as to form an annular tread edge 9, which may be sharpened to any extent desired.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, that the ferrule is of greater length than the reduced end of the staff, and

ther be observed by reference to Fig. 2, that.

the extremity of the reduced end 2 of the staff occupies a planeabovethat occupied.

by the lower walls of the openings 10 and that the beveled faces 5 of the said reduced end 2 register with the openings 10. The reason for so proportioning these parts will be pointed out in describing the other elements of the tip. At this point, however, itmay be'stated, that when the tip is in the condition shownin Fig. 2 of'the drawings and is adapted for use on icy surfaces, the tread end ofv the: ferrule will penetrate the ice or snow to a; greater'or less depth, and,.

while a quantity of ice or snow will be taken uprby the ferrule: as the crutch is'li fted from the ground, the same will be discharged or forced through the: openings 10- as the crutch is again brought' to: the ground and, consequently, packing ofsnow and ice in the hollow end of the ferrule is prevented. In this automati'c'dislod'ging of the accumulated ice and snow, the beveled faces 5 and the wedge shape of theextremity" of the portion 2, play an important. part, for'as the accumulations are forced upwardly in the ferrule they are dividedor broken up by reason ofthe wedge shape of. the beveled end of the said portion 2 and are forced outwardly through the openings by reason of the beveled surfaces" 5 In order that the tip may be adapted for use in summer, or when thereis no ice or snow, there is provided a plug 11 preferably of wood, although it may be made of some other material, which is fitted into the open lower end of the ferrule 6 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and thi'splug abuts-atits upper end against the beveled lower end of the reduced portion 2', andthe plug is provided at its'lower end with an annular beveled shoulder 12, the beveled side of which abuts against the beveled edge 8' of the said ferrule. There is also provided an anti-slipping tip 13 which ispreferably of rubber and which is fitted removably to the lower end of the ferrule 6. The tread portion 14 of the tip 13 rests against the under side of the plug 11 and the tread surface o'f the said portion 1 1 may be serrated or otherwise roughened to more eifectually provide against slipping. It will now be apparent that'when the crutch tip is arranged as shown in Fig. 3-, and weight is imposed upon the crutch, the weight will be borne directly by the crutch. staff and the ferrule will be relieved of strain to a considerable degree, due to the fact that the upper end of the plug 11 abuts against the lower end of the staff. It will also be apparent that the-fiared lower end or beveled portionof'the plug, registering with the treadedge 9 of the ferrule 6, prevents this edge from cutting into the tread portion of the rubber tip 13, and that even should the plug 11 be slightly shorter than it should be, the sharp edge of the ferrule will still be prevented from cutting into the rubber tip 13, due to the abutment of the beveled shoulder-12 against the beveled edge portion of theferrule. Furthermore, it will be apparent that the tip 13 serves as a means for holding the plug 11 in place, and, in the formof the invention shown in Fig; 3, it also serves to cover the openings. 10 to prevent the accumulation of dirtin these openings. When it is desired to convert the structure shown in Fig; 3" intothat shown in Fig 2, it is only necessary te remove the tip 13 and then by inserting" the finger in one or the other of'the openings 10, to remove the-plug 1 1, by pressing'downwardly against its-upper end, the said upper end of the plug being located in. a plane above the lower walls of the openings-101 In that form of the invention-shown in Fig. 501: the dra'wings, the flange 12 i's cylindrical, as-indica-ted at 15, below itsbevel'ed portion, and, it may be desirable to soconstruct the plug in order to further insure against the cutting of the anti-slipping tip 13. Also, in thisform' of'the invention, the tip is shorter than in the form shown in Fig. 3 and does not cover the openings 10. If found desirable, the plug 1 1 may be threaded or otherwise removably secured within the ferrule. Also if desired the tip 13 may be dispensed with as also the plug=1 1 and a rubber tread tip, approximately ofthe form of the plug 11, may be provided and removably fitted into thelowerend of'the ferrule, it being understood, of course, that when such a tip is employed, it will bear at its upper end against the lower end of the staff in the same manner as does-thesaid plug.

Havingjthus described theinventi'on, what is claimed as new is:

1. A crutch tipha'ving an openlower end and adapted at its upperen-d toreceive the end of a crutch stafl, andhaving an opening in its wall between its said ends 2. A crutch tip having an open tread end and provided in its wall with oppositely located openings, and means arranged within the tip for dividing accumulations forced upwardly within the tip and for directing such accumulations through said openings.

3-. A crutch staff having a beveled lower end and a tip fitted upon the said end of the stafi' and having an open tread end, and an opening in its wall located opposite the bevel of the said stafi end.

4. A crutch ti having an open end, a plug removably tted therein, and a tread tip removably fitted on to the ferrule and retaining said plug.

5. A crutch tip having an open end, a plug removably fitted in the said end, the tip being interiorly beveled at its said end and the plug being provided with a beveled shoulder abutting against the bevel of the tip end, and a tread tip fitted on to the firstmentioned tip and having its tread portion resting against the lower end of the said lug.

6. A crutch staff having its lower end cut away, a ferrule fitted on to the said end of the staff and having an opening located opposite the cut away end of the staff, a plug removably fitted in the lower end of the ferrule and abutting at its upper end against the lower end of the staff, and a tread tip fitted on to the ferrule and having its tread portion resting against the lower end of the plug.

7. In a crutch, a staff, a tubular open ended ferrule, the staff being fitted into the upper end of the ferrule and the ferrule being provided in its wall with an opening located at the extremity of the inserted end of the stafi, and means for closing the open end of the ferrule, the said means being removable.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM G. RESTORFF. [L.S.] MILTON M. LILE. [1. s.] Witnesses:

J. D. YOAKLEY, F. Gr. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

